SignalID: Shazam Style Automatic Signal Identification for Android
SignalID is a new Android app available on the Google Play store which offers Shazam-like radio signal identification. Just like Shazam does for music, you simply tune to an unknown signal with your SDR, play the raw audio, and let the app listen to it for five seconds. It then computes an audio fingerprint and checks to see if it knows what the signal is.
We tested the app but unfortunately we were unable to get it to detect any signals. Please write in the comments if you have success. As it uses audio fingerprinting, the app is probably highly dependant on choosing the correct demodulator (AM/FM/SSB etc), and also the tuning and signal quality. We note that most of the signal sources seem to come from our sister site the Signal ID Wiki. Searching through the wiki is a good alternative if automated solutions fail.
However the the app is new and we expect improvements and more signals to be added in the future. Currently the following signals can be recognized:
| - RTTY (Commercial 85Hz, 170Hz, 450Hz, 850Hz, Amateur 170Hz) - PactorI (Standard, FSP, FEC, SELCALL) - ASCII (170Hz) - ALIS - Codan8580 (200Hz, 250Hz) - CIS36_50 - CIS40_5 - CIS50_50 - STANAG 4285 (GEN, SYS3000 FEC, 8PSK, TFC, IDLE, SYS3000) - FT4 |
- FT8 |
We note that this app reminds us of a Python based signal identification app for the PC called "audio_recognition_system" which we posted about earlier this year.
As of 4/30/23 Signal ID is still not available on from the play store app. If it still exists, that means it was either not submitted or has been rejected by Google…too bad, It’s a great idea…..
Why the app wants access to my photos and media is perplexing. If an answer can be provided I may re-install it. Otherwise deleted. Nice idea though.
I was also asking myself why this app wants to access files on my Smartphone. Uninstalled it !
Because other than recording, it gives you an option to select a saved WAV file. No one wants your n00dz.
Wouldn’t work for me on OnePlus 7 pro on TM network. No signals detected, tried many times and both frequency settings.
SignalID does not show up in my Google Play Store on my phone, but I followed the google play link in the article and “installed” it remotely. Still not on my phone but I will update later.
Cool, it installed on my phone while I was working (no notification whatsoever, however). Since I’m supposed to be working, I only tried it on 2 known signals: 20m FT8 (USB) and VHF Pocsag (150 MHz, using FM demodulator). Neither were recognized after several tries.
put this functionality into the ARTEMIS Signal Software….
Thanks for the article, many improvements are coming, more signals added.
The project is now open source under the GPLv3 license, anyone can contribute.
A presentation (PDF) is also available here: